A depressing, weird game. I wish I could hug you all, Steelers’ nation.
– We’ll start with arguably the weirdest stat of all. The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-37 all-time when scoring 16 points or fewer. Two of them have come in the last two occasions. A 16-10 win today and a 13-10 win in 2012. 2-37 before 2012. The other wins came in 1990 and 1972.
– The last time Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions against the Bengals came in 2006. It’s only the third time overall Roethlisberger has done so against Cincy in 23 games against them. The other happened in 2005.
– Bengals’ RB Jeremy Hill came into today with a long rush of only 11. He had gains of 12 and 15 today.
– In 173 prior games, Heath Miller had never had 10+ catches for 100+ yards. He did today with a 10/105 stat line.
– Mike Mitchell and Antwon Blake had an interception today. First time the Steelers have had two defensive backs pick off a pass in over a year. October 26th of last year the last time in a 51-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Also when the team wore their throwbacks. Embrace those bumblebees.
– Until Bud Dupree, only three times have the Steelers ever had a rookie record 4+ sacks. Dupree notched #4 today. He’s also the current leader in team sacks and would be the first rookie in Steelers’ history to lead his team in that category. Lot of football left, of course.
– DeAngelo Williams had the first 55+ yard rush from a Steelers’ running back not named Le’Veon Bell since Rashard Mendenhall in October of 2011.
– Over each of the last three weeks, the Steelers have converted three or fewer third down conversions despite 10+ attempts. That is their first such streak since December 13th-Decemeber 28th of 1998. Wraps a bow around how terrible this team has been on third down. They were 3-11 today.
– The Steelers have averaged 6+ yards rushing in back-to-back weeks for the first time since November of 1972.
– Each team suffered 10 penalties today. First instance of each side being flagged double-digits times since 2005 when the Steelers took on the Minnesota Vikings.
– Since 2000, Antwon Blake becomes just the third Steeler to have 100+ yard interception return yards over the course of the regular season. He joins William Gay in 2014 and Chad Scott in 2001.
It’s the first time the Steelers have had a player do it in consecutive years since a four year streak spanning from 1993-1996 that included: Rod Woodson (three times) and Willie Williams.
Of course, this means Blake has done something Troy Polamalu has never done. So get your Hall of Fame busts ready for #41, too.
– We’ll leave you with one more depressing stat (sorry!). The Steelers have been held under 13 points three times over the first eight weeks. It’s the first time that’s happened since 2006.
